Erik Prince

Erik Prince, the founder of the security contractor Blackwater and brother of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, reportedly held a secret meeting in the Seychelles in January 2017 in an apparent effort to establish back-channel communications between then-President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Prince, who did not have an official role with the Trump campaign or transition team but has connections to both Steve Bannon and mega-donor Rebekah Mercer, reportedly set up the meeting through Emirati associates while portraying himself as an unofficial envoy for Trump. Prince testified before the House Intelligence Committee in November 2017. (Photo credit: Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images)